French retailer Carrefour will re-enter India via a franchise partnership with Dubai’s retail and lifestyle retailer Apparel Group. 

The first Carrefour will open next year, with an initial focus on North India before expanding throughout the country. 

Carrefour’s executive director of international partnerships, Patrick Lasfargues, says the debut in India is part of the brand’s strategy to expand its franchise to more than 10 countries by 2026. 

Carrefour first entered India in 2010 but exited the region in July, four years later, after underperforming in the market. 

The French retailer operates 14,000 stores in 40 countries. Lasfargues also said that Carrefour plans to grow nationwide with multiple formats, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, and gourmet stores. 

It will offer a wide range of products, including groceries, fresh produce and non-food items such as household goods, electronics, and clothing. 

According to Nilesh Ved, owner of Apparel Group and president of AppCorp Holding, the goal is to provide the “best products at very attractive prices” to all Indian customers.